Town Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. Welcome to the Win of Town Council meeting. It's February 17th, 2026. It's 6:30. We are in the Jav hearing room. Call the meeting to order. Roll call, please. Councelor Cost here. Councelor Cassinary here. Council Mal here. Councelor Ren here. Councelor Dimes present. Councelor Romano here. Vice President Swope. Yes. President here. Thank you. See qu meeting is in order. Uh please stand for the pledge led by council Romano. Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Minutes have been circulated for the February third meeting. Is there a motion? Motion by councelor Dime, second by councelor Tassary. Any discussion on the minutes? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. No. The eyes have it.

General information, recommendations. Um, this is a state of the town address. This is a yearly address. Um, so good evening. Uh, and it says something about the kind of winter we're experiencing when an overcast 38 degree g Yeah. When an overcast 38 degree day feels like a welcoming treat. As we know, the weather is beyond our control. In some respects, our town can feel similar. It is discussed, debated, praised, and at times criticized. It is tested by challenges both expected and unforeseen. Yet through it all, we consistently come together. We support one another. We assist our neighbors. And in doing so, we strengthen the bonds that define our community. While no metaphor is perfect, this one speaks to an enduring truth about who we are. One of the responsibilities and truly one of the privileges granted by the town charter is for the council president to deliver an annual state of the town address. This occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on our current standing, recognize the progresses we have made, acknowledge the challenges that remain, and look ahead with clarity, purpose, and a shared commitment to continue progress. This is my fifth opportunity to stand or in this case sit before you in this capacity, and I do not take that responsibility lightly. I am sincerely grateful for the trust you have placed in me and for the privilege of serv serving a community that means so much to all of us. No state of the town address would be complete without first expressing my sincere appreciation to our department heads, their dedicated staff and the many members of our boards and committees. The effective operation of our town

depends on their professionalism, expertise and daily commitment to public service. They ensure our safety and well-being, educate our children and grandchildren, maintain clean and welcoming public spaces, provide vibrant parks and recreational opportunities, and preserve and improve our infrastructure and streetscapes. In short, their work sustains the quality of life that makes our community one we are proud to call home. The state of our town is good. That does not mean perfect. It does not mean it's without challenges, but it does mean we are stable, responsible, and moving forward. Like every municipality in the Commonwealth, winter faces a wide range of daily issues, many of which are discussed regularly on social media, in coffee shops, and around kitchen tables. It is natural to focus most closely on the issues that affect us personally. Yet, even though we are small in landmass, the scope of what we manage as a community is substantial and I believe we are doing a very good job at it. State aid continues to be a lifeline for cities and towns. Nationwide, municipalities receive approximately 31% of their revenue from state aid. In Massachusetts, that figure is closer to 26% and drop. We must therefore rely heavily on sound local fiscal management. At the same time, we are figure facing continuing cost pressures. Health insurance costs have increased more than 22% over the past two years and the projections for fiscal 27 indicate an additional 79% increase. Because of conservative and disciplined budgeting, we have been able to absorb those pressures while continuing to invest in our priorities. Recently, the finance subcommittee

discussed the distribution of free cash. As many of you know, the term is somewhat misleading. It is neither truly free nor simply cash. It is the result of fi uh responsible financial management and careful forecasting. Through structured financial policies, we use these funds to straighten our stabilization accounts. Our stabilization accounts, capital, general, building, and most recently education, position us for long-term success. The bench towns many municipalities strive for is approximately 10% of operating budget in stabilization. We have made remarkable remarkable progress to reach that goal. This financial strength has helped us maintain an excellent bond rating, saving taxpayers millions of dollars when we borrow for major projects such as the new fire station. That is not luck, that is discipline. As I reviewed the past state of the town addresses, I noticed certain projects that have been consistent topics of discussion. The difference today is that most of them are now well defined and actively progressing. the middle school site, the new fire station, infrastructure improvements on Tilestone, Girdlestone and Pico with V Street Tip projects. Each of these required extensive planning, coordination, and perseverance. While they they're in different phases of development, they are all moving forward. In addition to the new fire station, I am still hopeful we will see meaningful improvements to the Orizion Center. upgrades would be made to the rink and gym and make them cleaner, safer, more aesthetically welcoming for residents of all ages. I also continue to advocate for a community arts center as a potential future use of the Pauline Street Fire Station once the new fire station becomes operational,

a space that could serve creativity, culture, and connection within our town. No issue has generated more discussion over the past several years than three have. Last year, we were one of 34 communities not in compliance when I made the state of the town address. Today, we are one of 10. That reflects serious efforts and continued engagement. We remain committed to identifying a solution that works best for Winthre, one that satisfies the state requirements one way or another while preserving what makes our town special. Our goal is to present new information in the near future that will move us forward constructively. 3A will not ultimately define us. It will not ultimately divide us. We are far more effective working together than apart. To ensure residents remained informed and engaged on this topic and others, I will be holding bimonthly office hours focused on respectful dialogue and transparency. Even when we disagree, we must do so thoughtfully and constructively. Winup is a special place to all of us. The world has changed in many ways. But I hope we never lose the values that define us. respect for one another, civic pride, and the understanding that the no the goal is not individual victory, but community achievement. We are fortunate in many ways. Yet often, way too often, we focus on what divides us rather than unites us. We look at the glass half empty instead of half full. We focus on what might go wrong instead of what likely will go right. Life is too short to be consumed by negativity. Let's work together. Let's support one another. Let's keep the jewel that it is in the place we proudly choose to live to raise our

families and build our future. Thank you and God bless our great town. SO THAT Thank you. Now we have three public hearings which will all maybe be more interesting. Uh, I will open a public hearing for the town council to appropriate retained earnings in the ferry enterprise fund of $20,000 cover the cost of potential uh cost with fiscal 26. Um, councelor Tasini.

Thank you, Mr. President. The uh finance meeting met on this motion. I will read it now aloud if you don't mind. Uh, you want to wave the Well, you can you can read it now and then we'll wave it when we vote on it. No business. You can read it now. Sure.

This is for the ferry. Go. I got the wrong ones. This is a motion from the town manager submitted February 3rd, 2026. I move the town council appropriate retained earnings in the ferry enterprise fund in the amount of $20,000 to cover the cost that the fund has will incur in FY26. Currently, these expenses include insurance. The finance office will apply the funds to the various accounts where expenses are incurred or take any other action there too. These funds are coming from the F's retained earnings account and being applied across various ferry expense accounts. The amount is $20,000. The remainder of the retained earnings after motion approval is $12,837. Okay. So, this was discussed in the finance subcommittee. Uh it has part of recommendation which will go over in old business and um this is to uh you know the ferry enterprise fund exists and it exists only for retained earnings at this point and it what the only bill it really has coming in that we know of is the insurance uh the expense is slightly less than the 20,000 but just in case so we didn't have if there were any surprises that we were build for before June 30th we would not have to come back. If whatever remainder of that money is not used after the insurance payment, it will be brought back to the retained earnings of the um device fund itself. Is there anyone from the public would like to be heard uh as a proponent of this? Anyone has an up on the anyone on the council? We will close that public hearing. Second public hearing. We will open to appropriate retained earnings in the

rinkens price fund of $20,000 for extraordinary repairs. Council test. Another motion submitted by town manager Marino February 3rd, 2026. I move the town council appropriate from retained earnings in the rank at the price fund the amount of 20,000 for extraordinary repairs and maintenance of the mechanical equipment at the ice rink or take any other action there too. We're moving, we're appropriating funds from the rinks retained earnings account to the rinks repair and maintenance of infrastructure. The remaindering the remaining balance of the retained earnings of the rink will be $147,217. This is another one uh Mr. President that came out of the finance committee with a positive recommendation. Okay. And this was an extraordinary repair uh to I believe one of the compressors. This is not something that was expected. Um at the end of the year when the rank comes out with extra money other than that line, it will be replenished in the retained earnings. Um this is a repair that has already happened. Anybody would like to speak as a audience that Rob

uh Rob Deco precinct 600% in favor. Thank you. Anybody to any consulates as vice president? It's a question not not opposition to it. I just want to know given the rink, what is your expected expenses overall to the rink versus the the the money that we bring in? Is that is this a okay? I mean, are we balanced on that or

we have a balanced budget for the range every year? Yeah, we show the council and the finance committee revenues and expenses and we balance the budget every year and there is a line item in there for repairs. This was just something that was unexpected because the whole compressor went we don't normally in the end though this will balance it out. Yes.

Any other questions? Seeing that we will close that public hearing. open another public hearing to appropriate certified free cash. Um, council test, you don't have to go through the whole motion here because it's long and cumbersome and we're going to go over it in whole business, but um, I would guess just give a brief overview as to what the recommendations were from the subcommittee. recommendation from subcommittee came back as favorable recommendation for the town manager's approp um motion to the council and he's motioning that we allocate in terms of the existing policy to the general stabilization fund the capital stabilization fund the building stabilization fund and the education stabilization funds the appropriate amounts of the 2.5 million in free cash after the 10% set aside uh at the end of those allocations, which will which will increase all of our stabilization accounts, and it will put the building stabilization count at the fully $300,000 cap. There'll be about $500,000 left over of free cash that will await further appropriation if needed by the council before the end of this fiscal year. and and we'll go excuse me we'll go over it more in in old business but basically uh whatever free cash is certified by the state we take 10% of that we set that aside and then we break up the remaining 80% of what's remaining into stabilization accounts and then 20% of that is left um to be used as necessary if not it will revert back to free cash next this November uh for example a major use of free cash this winter will probably be snow and ice. It will be a way for us to level that account off. There's only two accounts in the town that can you can you can

budget knowing that you're not going to make that budget. Snow and ice being one of them. Veterans Affairs I believe is the other one. Um so this will give us the ability to to make that account hold as well as build our stabilization funds and such. Anyone listen wish to speak in favor this in favor? increasing too. Um, my question is I know you mentioned one has a cap on it. Do all our stabilization funds have caps?

No. Building stabilization has a cap because it was mainly started just to make repairs, unforeseen repairs, like a roofing repair, something like that. So, we didn't think it would ever, you know, get crazy that you would have to make repairs. The other ones don't. Uh, and as I mentioned, the capital especially is is so important when you're looking at bond ratings and such. Um, but no, there's no cap on any of the other ones. And and the reason being

the reason being is you want to build your reserves. There's nothing that says you you can always change financial policies. Like we didn't have a financial policy until about 12 years ago and now we've refined it twice over the last six that we're trying to save more money. I mean, you could get to the point where you say you might be saying like you you have an abundance of free of uh stabilization. I don't know if we would ever get there, but at that point you could always change the financial policy. The fiscal financial policy is something that can be changed uh within the council at any time. Anyone like to speak? But just as a as a additional comment to that is the council can and will appropriate from these stabilization funds when the need arises. I think we appropriated from the capital stabilization fund once last year.

Yes. And and the capital s when you're looking at the budget and the capital plan, you'll see different um areas as to where that money is coming from and they'll be alphabetized and and it might be a capital stabilization account or a general stabilization account. So there is times every year that that money is used in some way, shape or form to help with a potential capital project. But you you try not to use I mean the goal is not to use stabilization money for ongoing expenses. It should be you know a repair a vehicle purchase uh you know sander something like that. Anyone else like to speak either way? All right. Council councelor

uh like to make a motion that we take this out of order for the for new business. uh this is just going to be more in more involved. I think I mean I don't think it's going to be a problem but I think it's it's good to further explain it in more detail that we can right now.

All right. Hopefully we'll get some new business. Uh seeing no other comment we'll close that public hearing and we will open up public comment. Three minute limit and uh Mr. Democrin 6. Um, I just want to show support for everybody on the council. Um, I know that social media can get a little nasty sometimes. So, um, you know, you vote your conscience and and that's it. So, don't worry what anybody says about you. You all have my support 100%. Um, as far as precinct 6 goes, we've had I I was told four now, but at least three members that have put up um we have so many non-contested elections. So, I'm actually genuinely happy that we've had so many people step up for precinct 6. and all three candidates that I don't that I know I don't know the fourth one um but they are all genuinely great people and they have stepped up and the one thing I would ask is whoever does not get appointed to the position gets nominated to a committee because we need these kind of people in our town. Thank you. Thank you. Mr.

Jack precinct for a few points. This comment is directed to councelor Mala. I find council me to be incredible. I told him so myself in person to his face. I'm just speaking for myself and I say I will not believe another word this person says in this room until he's not in this room anymore. changed his mind. He ran on the premise that he was going to vote yes for the exemption and then he changed his mind. So, as far as I'm concerned, he's incredible. As far as uh the conversations with Mass, Council Tazeri was was the chair of a committee to make an agreement with Massport. He held one public meeting. The agreement may be as much as $20 million over a number of years. This agreement can make or break the town of Winthre. This agreement is the most important agreement in the history of the town. Involves millions and millions of dollars. It could be any amount. Choose your amount. I suggested to councelor Tazaneeri at the one meeting at the one meeting that he did have in public he should put a request for a proposals to negotiate such an agreement. So far nothing answers. If there is a proposal and I hope there

is accept it and a candidate puts forth their credentials be the person that negotiates and that candidate explains his credentials that qualifies him and goes he makes submarine sandwiches and drives an Uber. Would that person be a good choice to negotiate a $20 million negotiation with the money that's this town is owed? Once again, I find Mr. Mala incredible. Incredible. The definition is impossible to believe. Thank you,

Celeste. Celeste Verrapeutic Reync one. Um, uh, I guess what I' I'd like to first say is that I'd like to see less of the ad homs at our counselor's expense. Um, I would submit what makes anybody qualified to negotiate on behalf of our town and the business of our town is an understanding of how the town operates, a distinct business acumen, um, uh, someone who is tuned in to how our government um, works both at the town and state level. Um, but again, just the attacks that happened meeting after meeting after meeting, I I'd love to see any of you up there make a motion to kind of address that and cut them off at the knees. Um, I I would like to say now now being less flattering, I guess, um, a little bit more of a me update in our state of the town address. I'd like to see a little bit more granular language of report. I know we talked about where we were in terms of um in terms of numbers of people opposing 3A um and engagement and submission um to language of how that has made us better. I think at the outset last year at this time we had a climate commission that was fully engaged that had wrapped their arms around the issues in town and we're beginning to put a number um and a strategy in place this year. we don't have that. Um, so I'd really like to see from year to year and even a little bit more of a regular cadence where we are in terms of progress towards goals and needs and initiatives and towns. But thank you. Thank you all for the work that you're doing and thank you for doing so in the face of some of this stuff.

Sorry, I'll be quick. Aaron Barcelis, brie. Um, I just want to just um I'm going be very quick. Thank um councelor Ren. I had a conversation with him last um town council about something on my street and that night he drove down to um see what I was talking about and he even emailed me that night. So I just appreciate that. So thank you. Thank you. All right. Close correspondence. Committee reports. Uh, council test.

Thank you, Council President. The finance committee met last week, last Thursday. We heard, we had discussion on the three motions. We just had public hearings on. They all came out with favorable recommendations. I thank the town manager for providing us the motions, the president for referring them to finance, and special thanks to Sarah Johnson, Robbie Powers, and Karen Shers who were present and helped us in that discussion. Uh, it's very much appreciated. I don't they might not be online tonight, but please pass my thanks along to all of them and thank you to Karen. Um, anything you want to we'll cover these in old business, correct? You say that we we met on three you met on three issues and had positive recommendations.

Positive recommendations. Yes. On all three of these motions. I agree. Firehouse building committee is meeting March 2nd.

March 2nd. Uh obviously everybody could see the progress. The auditorium now is down along with the school. They're cleaning up the site. We uh we were aware and are aware of there's a hole in the fence basically which has been fixed. It's been repaired. Um there's some issues with snow pushing down some of the fence also on W the M. But um anytime somebody sees something, please feel free to call me or Tony or whoever any one of the counselors. Um we just want to make sure that that site site stays secure throughout this process. Um, but it's I think they did really good work on that building. Uh, it's amazing how intricate it got, especially as they got close to the gymnasium and how they use different techniques. But, um, I thank them for their work and I'm sure we'll be more of it in the near future. Ordinance review committee. Um, we will they have had their last meeting. We will have a report from them at the next meeting. school department report. Um we had a school uh committee meeting last Monday. Um it was lengthy in terms of school committee meetings, but it was uh there was a lot of uh there was probably 65 odd um union members there to show their support for the union. as we are in the midst of negotiations and uh there was a lot of public comment from them and and much appreciated from all the school committee members. Um, other than that it was just regular business and you know talking about the snow and the issues that they had as well and uh thank the DPW for their job and how it's uh not a thankful job because somebody can al always find something but the schools really appreciated that the work that the DPW did uh to get the schools

open with a limited amount of snow days but um and I'm sure the children are enjoying enjoying a good week vacation. So, yes, I could I just add I would I was hopefully that you all looked at the transcript and Carol Mish's response. Yeah, but we can't go into that. There's they always look at that because it's part of the school negotiation. Um, town manager report has been circulated. Tony, if you'd like to give us a few bullets.

Yeah. No, you can sit on most a lot of storm removal. I talked about fire station demo work. Um leaded to the 3A meeting. I did put some highlights in there. Um a little bit about that now.

Yep. Oh, just uh you know, we had the four questions I included through the report just about what we talked about. Um trying to get some more clarification on the condo docks and impacts on those. Um the EOHLC's approval letters that they send out to districts. I know the last couple of bullets it seemed uh some people inquired that it looked like they could just change the rules and change the uh change our approval status at any given time. We discussed that how maybe they could put some clarifying language along that because they insisted that that's not what it means. Um talked about if we ever got to a ballot question in town, you know, what that would look like and if we could put conditions on it um say we still, you know, retain our rights to oppose 3A, you know, but if we had a district in front of us, you know, still retain those rights. But Margaret Hurley from the AG's office said she'd have to work with the Harvard town attorney and obviously the elections office to uh any sort of ballot questions that would come forward. And then we lastly talked about the lawsuit. You know um basically you know one of the concerns and questions always was if you know play it out two years and we lose the lawsuit and we get forced to put a district in here you know can we at least try to have the district that we want so it has minimal impact on winter. And the indication we got was that you know they'd work with us on that. it didn't seem like they would try to jam a district down to say all right well you you lost now you got to put units here here and here and um so it looked like you know that was a pretty favorable response and then I got into discussion about withholding of grants and you know President Lati and Senator Edwards and others uh did a good job of you know pushing for the fact that we don't appreciating the fact that we're getting grants taken away from us other than the four that are listed in the regulations and um they wanted to know the president was here you certainly make his point especially the 21st century grants I think for the schools and the tree grant and you know others that we're can apply for.

I'll open it up for a few questions. But before and I'm not sure if I saw this on the report or not, but just an update on Massport negotiations that those negotiations we have said several times. They're not involved any subcommittee on the council. There was not one counselor specifically involved in any uh negotiations. We have hired a consultant. We are working with the consultant. We've said that several times over the past six months. Um we have had one or two meetings and we have a meeting scheduled probably in early March. Um so we will provide updates with that as they become available. Uh questions. Uh Vice President SW.

Thank you. Um town manager. I I just generally I just got a couple of calls from our from constituents. I'm wondering if we could have some kind of of um maybe a a schedule of here's what we listed as a problem and what happened to it and you know what's the resolution. It it doesn't because I I'm losing some track of what we've already discussed in in our you know in our missions and in our meetings. So for example um we had an issue about trees you know we had an issue about the tree that was half on the property of public property and half on and half on you know private property. So what happened to that? So my point is it's not just that one. It's all the things that continue to be presented in the town. And so if we could get keep track of that in some kind of public way, I think that would be helpful because I I lose track too of what happened a year ago and I don't know what the resolution was. So I would like you to take that into consideration. Secondly, I heard what you said. I'm not sure I understood everything that's going on on meetings that you had. So, where are we on those meetings? I take it from the minutes that they are going to take everything you all said in consideration

and that's where we are and get back waiting for that. Yeah, we're going to talk a little bit about that. Yeah, I was going to let you as well, but we could talk about a little bit too if you want. Yeah, we're just uh they didn't give us any direct answers during that meeting. They they said they were going to talk with their internal stakeholders council and get back to us. Sorry, I'm not listening. What are you talking about? I don't know what you're talking about. The 3A the meeting we had with the EOHLC and the attorney general. That was a topic that was brought up. Uh so yeah, we're waiting for answers from them. Uh they were going to talk internally and then talk to the legal counsel and get back to us, you know, answers to those specific requests we made. Thank you. Well, Council Tari and then council.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, uh, Major Marino. Just a quick question on the FY27 budget as you start preparing those books. We had a suggestion from uh, Karen Chavez that we include the retained earnings balances in those budget books that you provide. I know. Sure. I think yeah, we can do that with the sum, but we we do we do want to say I know Sarah Johnson explained this and might have been Rob might have been Robbie P, but we understand and we should probably put a note on that page that says, you know, the funding is available until the close of the fiscal year, right, this year and then it won't be available again until reertification of the free cash.

Um, but it is something that we'd like to see on the finance committee. We'd like to see it uh as councils on our council budget books and I know that the citizens advisory committee would like to see that in the budget books if you don't mind. Thank you very much. We'll include it with the enterprise funds. Thank I've been uh asked quite a few many times about the blue lights um and still on and still on. Uh I understand that you know staffing and the amount of work that has gone on is pretty staffing

the amount of work that goes behind it. Um, and I know budget-wise it's kind of a tight budget for it, too. Um, the I think one of the main questions was how did some areas get prioritized over others? So, maybe just a high level this is where we started because business, this is because of truck room. Um, and I know there's still areas that you're still working on trying to clear out and I know it does take time. So, you okay?

Yes. Sorry. So, um, just to kind of bring it in, so there's just over 150 streets of town. So far, we've done 95 of them as of this afternoon. Um, prioritization was first schools, obviously the town hall, public public buildings, business districts, and then just the narrowest roads. Uh, we're not thinking convenience. We're not thinking, oh, we know somebody on this street. We're thinking getting fire apparatus to homes, getting police to homes, and and where the problem areas are. It's uh 20 years of me doing the job is how I prioritize the areas that are that are problematic. That's where we're at. We're going to complete the snow removal efforts. Um well, we're not going to we're going to we're going to turn the lights back on uh turn the lights back off as of uh 4:00 on Friday. That's the goal. So we have four more days of uh of of snow removal efforts. We'll continue snow removal after that. But the reason we kept the blue lights on in addition to you know um not being you know making sure that we can get all safety apparatus everywhere is uh you know when we go to a road like tomorrow morning we show up the parking ban is still in effect. So those cars have to move if if they're illegally parked on the roadways otherwise you know they don't and we can't you know trying to work around vehicles with this with tractor trailers trying to navigate tractor trailers you know through these tight roads is it's a difficult task. So, um, so far, like I said, 95 streets have been done. Approximately 90 cubic yards per road on average. That's close to 10,000 cubic yards of snow that we've that we've hauled out to our different

snow farms throughout the town. We have four of them currently. Prioritization again is just uh knowing where the trouble areas are and uh and trying to make sure that businesses are able to function, making sure that the town buildings and departments are able to function, schools are able to function and that's how we went. No, we appreciate the work that the DPW has done on that and again the blue light remains on. However, if the streets are curved to curb, there are a list of streets that are off and those streets are being updated daily on the town website. Uh, council.

Uh, yes. I know that you mentioned a little that you talked about loss of grant money. Did you also talk about the airmark money for the fire station that $2 million? Was that part of? Uh, it's not their call. We did bring up that we applied for it, but it's certainly not the EOHLC's decision. So that has no that's no relation to 3A. It shouldn't, but I'm not saying it won't, you know. I mean, it it technically shouldn't have any relation to 3A, but ultimately the governor's office decides that. So, we'll see what happens. Council looking at one end of the table. Council of dimes.

Thank you, President Latian Marino. I just have a couple comments. Um, thank you to the Northeast Mosquito Control for all the work and for the DPW Department for hauling off um the debris from the dredging. I look forward to seeing that um the results from that in the freshman's band resource area. I think it's going to be remarkable and um definitely make a difference in the flooding down there. Um, and I just had Thank you for the um rehab of the hole in the fence at the at the Pauline Street um side of the um fire of of the middle school demo. They did a great job buttoning that up. Thank you.

All right. Old business town council appropriate retain earnings in the federal enterprise fund of $20,000. Council Tas. I've read the motion already. I can read it again unless someone wants to Is there a motion to wave the reading for a second time? Second by councelor Romano. All those in favor say I. Those no the is a motion coming out of finance with positive recommendation uh to appropriate retained earnings in the ferry in the amount of $20,000 to cover cost incidental to the 2026 fiscal budget. Um, any discussion? Uh, roll call, please. Councelor Costan,

yes. Councilor Tassinary, yes. Councelor Malav, yes. Councelor Rarden, yes. Councilor Dimes, yes. Council Romano, yes. Vice President Spoke, yes. President Lutter, yes. Motion is pass. Council appropriate retained earnings in the rink enterprise fund of $20,000. Council test. Another one that came out with a favor recommendation from the finance committee last week. I've read the motion already. If anyone wants to read the motion, there's a motion to the waiting. There's a second. Although any discussion on the motion. Yes, councelor Tassinary. I I take it that the that the rig actually pays for itself in the end. Is that true? As far as we can see,

every enterprise fund is selfunded, but there are a couple of enterprise funds that receive an appropriation from the town. Uh enterprise funds also pay a um shared cost from the town which has changed indirect cost over the last several years which has gone up pretty dramatically but with purpose. Um but yes the rink is a rank the um obviously uh uh water and so um recreation they were all supposedly self-contained funds. Um, you know, for example, parks and wreck years ago, we used to get a $100,000 appropriation from the town. Uh, and back in 2008 when times was really tough, we told them we couldn't do that anymore. They had to survive on their own. So, they did for a number of years and now they are one and I think the rink is another that gets a $25,000 appropriation, $30,000 appropriation.

Um, so just to However, I would just say though the town owns the rank. So if there were ever to be some kind of larger expense that would not be covered by the their own retained revenue or by the the ring's enterprise fund, the town would be responsible to to make those responsible for any enterprise. Okay. So essentially though this year we've paid $25,000 for the rink. Is that as part of the budget appropriation? This money is not coming from the town. This is coming from the rink's retained earnings. Okay. So, so it's kind of like the rink's free cash if you want. So, we have not paid anything for the rink from the town this year.

No. Well, several years. Several several years. The ring just finished paying. The rink had a um a redo back about 15 years ago. It was lost a million5 and the rink paid that bond back yearly. Uh the town does not pay that back. Enterprise funds cover their expenses. If they don't, then they're really not. So if indeed something happens as councelor Jassinary mentioned we would be responsible for covering it but we have not in the past done that because they have paid it has been selfsufficient.

Correct. They have in other years like other funds gone into retained earnings to settle their expenses until the year ends and then they recoup them because they just can't go from line to line. It's not like a school budget where they can just it's just a bottom line budget. Okay. Thank you. Uh roll call, please. Councilor Costan, yes. Council Tiner, yes. Council Malab, yes. Councilor Ren, yes. Council Dimes, yes. Council Romano, yes. Vice President Spo, yes. President, yes. Motion pass. Council wrote to appropriate free cash. Councelor Tassin.

Thank you, Mr. President. This also came out of the finance committee with a buzz of recommendation is to appropriate 2,4,141 of free certified free cash across four stabilization funds. General stabilization fund would receive 30%. So 751,553 $751,53 for an ending balance of 6,2398. Capital stabilization would receive 37%. which is $926,915 plus the overage of the building stabilization fund of $186,327 for a total appropriation of 1,113,242 creating an ending balance in capital stabilization of 2,92671. Building stabilization would receive $64,190 to reach its cap of $300,000 in the ending balance. The education stabilization fund would receive its 3% of $75,155 for an ending balance of1,580,144. The ending free cash, including the initial 10% set aside, will be $779,388 to be available for further appropriation later this fiscal year by the town council. Um, we all I believe I believe everybody on the council received from Sarah Johnson the calculation of the free cash policy. If anyone does not receive it, please uh let me know or or let the town manager know. We can forward that over to you.

It's in the minutes from the finance committee meeting. Motions we made came out of finance for the concept of recommendation does not require a second discussion on free cash. Motion just vice president. Thank you. Tess, can you send me that the the minutes? Yeah, sure. I think uh the folks posted them, but I can send them

I can send them to the whole Yeah. Uh free cash is kind of a big deal and it's um you know it's it's a way to try to put money back um to save for future needs which there always is one. Um if the town manager just wants to explain because the the set aside is something again new in a policy over the past couple of years where you know we don't know year to year we could have $5 in free cash. We went multiple years with no free cash um back 15 or so years ago 15 11 12 years ago. Um so there was no guarantee on free cash. So the set aside my understanding is that if you have such a small let's say you had 500,000 in free cash and 80% of it is accounted for. So that's 400,000 only leaves you with 100,000 might not even cover snow and ice. So having that 10% set aside before you start with uh stabilization funds gives you that little bit of leeway that's going to help with snow and ice. And then this year that will be relatively significant. is, you know, quickly. I'm I'm I'm not sure I'm speaking out of turn here because I haven't really talked to Steve 100%. But that snowstorm that we had a couple of weeks ago and auxiliary cost from it is probably close to 150,000 closer to 300 300,000. The original storm maybe was 50ish and then just the cleanup and stuff. Yeah. So, just to give you an idea, if if if it's a cold night and we just go out and do a sanding, it's close to 20 grand. So, so that's one of the reasons why the set aside I I don't know if it didn't.

No, yeah, it just leave you that cushion and also, you know, in theory drops a little bit less what you put in the stabilization funds like you said. So, you have that cushion. You start doing your percentages after the set aside. So, it ends up dropping the percentages that you dropped in the other accounts. You've got healthy balances in the account. So, you're doing really well.

And keep in mind when I started here, free cash was 1.3 1.4. You know, my goal is to get it to 3 million. That's sort of a nice healthy number for the county side. So we got 2.7 this year. We're getting there. And that's through strict budgeting by the department heads, you know, conservative on the receipts. So cuz, you know, we get free cash from overage on the receipts. So, you know, we say we're going to collect, you know, 400,000 in building permits and we collect 700,000. That additional money is what helps to go to certified free cash. And then also turnbacks, you know, turn back money in the budget, not use the whole budget. So we use a certified free cash. we have it for capital and fund these funds and you know all the other things we need in the town

and just to give people an idea I'm sure a lot of people know that the operating budget for the town is somewhere a little shy of 70 odd million you know in the 66 67 million range and and with enterprise funds probably a little over 82 million um so it's a pretty substantial budget uh for a 1.6 square mile town. Uh, council test, did you have a question?

No, I just actually wanted you if you if you would like to you made some really good comments at the finance committee meeting about uh the ending balances of this of these stabilization funds that were I don't know if you want to share that with the whole council just just a healthy picture of the stabilization funds. Yeah, it is when you know and I touched about it in the state of the town, but when you look at the balances, um, and again, people could look at it,

I guess you could be in your house and say, "Wow, I have too much money in in savings. I should go buy a car or something." But, um, I don't know if there's We're not anywhere near too much money. But, uh, money could go really quickly. A, you know, a project that costs two, three, four million in a blink of an eye. Um, but you know, when you're looking at stabilization and you're looking at ending balances here and roughly 10.5 odd million with all the enterprise funds, uh, and and again, if you're looking at it backwards and you're looking at a $70 million budget, that's, you know, 13 13 and a half%. Um, which is very good. Now, you know, you hear different things from state and from bond companies if they're looking at total stabilization, if they're just looking at capital stabilization. Some people say, "Oh, it's 10% in capital." But, I mean, I think money saved is money earned. And it's and it's a really good policy. And these are just, you know, to to be more stringent um and to take unneeded expenses out and to really look and legitimize every expense that we do. I mean, I think it's it's it's something, you know, council could take a lot of hits and and I'll take them with anybody, but uh this is a really good policy that we put in place and and it's showing dividends. So, uh thanks to the town manager for and thanks to the department heads for uh you know, working within their budget, you know, and we do budget a little conservatively when it comes to building permits and such because you know, some of it is you just don't know. Um, and now with just cost rising, you know, sometimes it helps that building is going to cost more because of the cost of materials. But, and keep in mind these balances tied directly to your bond rating, which as you know during the last few years has gone up. We went from double A to A plus. The next step is AAA, but you know, we'll then need to pay down some of our oped liabilities before we hit

that. But, you know, that's um we're we're getting there. All right. Um, can we do a call? Yes, please. Council Costigan. Yes. Council Tineri. Yes. Council Malar. Yes. Councelor Rearen. Yes. Council Dimes. Yes. Councilor Romano. Yes. Vice President Swope. Yes. President Lati. Yes.

Uh again just a little discussion on the EOHLC meeting. Um we did meet there was basically a summary of the transcript. The town manager just went over it. Um it it was a very I think it was a very healthy meeting. We did not go in with preconceived notions that we were going to walk out with, uh, you know, everything we wanted right away and they were just going to say yes, yes, yes. But they were very receptive to everything we said. Um, we brought up points that they said they had never heard before. And for example, and in the accept when you're putting a plan out, you're getting a preapproval from the state and they'll come back and give you a pre-approval letter if it's pre-approved. And at the end of that is basically a two or three sentence line that basically says thank you very much you're preapproved but we can change it at any time is the way we took it in a lot of communities taken it but nobody has said anything about it. What they what they tried to explain to us is that there have been several cities and towns that have passed a 3A plan and then have changed zonings and they just they put this in so they can be aware letting cities and towns know that they just have to notify them if there is a change in zoning especially if it affects a district that they had used for 3A compliance. um they had not looked at it the way we looked at it. But I will say even the senator when she read it said I could totally understand how the town uh could see that and they said that they've sent out 156 compliance letters and not one city in town. And I said that's that's special and we think a little bit more about it. But you know they were very cognizant of that and said that they would look uh so that was a good thing. We also asked a big question that has been asked a lot is about condo docs and and making sure that condo docks would supersede 3A which you know they're very strict about not giving out legal

advice. Um we are asking if they could clarify better in a different form. Uh, what they did do is on their frequently asked questions on their website, if you go to the O HLC and look at 3A, I think number 13 on the frequently asked questions states that condo dock supersede 3A. Um, so that was kind of their way of saying we really are telling you the truth, but we're still trying to get more definitive language in that. Um, we were very, you know, when I heard about, we said we we're we're big boys and big women and we understand that there were consequences, potential consequences of taking the action that we did, but we felt very strongly about it and still do. However, when we start when we start hearing about 21st century grants, uh, and public safety grants or public health grants, um, and I said, I'm not here to tell the governor how to run an election, but it's an election year, and I don't think taking money away from kids and public safety and public health is going to do her any favors. Um, we were very strong about that 21st century. Now, this is not part of the EOHLC. He wasn't even aware of it. the secretary. Um, but I think they took those comments to heart and because that's affecting especially the 21st century grant is a grant that's given every three years. So, you know, it's one thing to lose whatever grant it is, they're all important, but there's one thing to lose a grant and say, well, we can apply next year. uh but 21st century if and they have 30 or 60 days to apply now if they do not get that because of 3A and that grant for them for a three-year period could be upwards of 400,000 or a little bit more that's substantial and that's affecting kids um in after school programs and their ability to attend after school programs or them having the staffing to do that

is not something that should be affected by zoning compliance Uh and and the same with public health and public safety. Um you know, and we made up my crystal to play with that and and we talked about we talked about districts and we talked about um you know, the secretary said to us, "Bring us a hundred plans. We'll look at every one of them. If you want to bring us a different plan and look at it, we will look at it and give you an idea." Um, so we took all their suggestions and and I'm hoping and I believe that they took ours. Uh, we will be meeting again. Um, we don't have a scheduled meeting. We're still waiting to hear back from them. Um, but we think it was a productive meeting. We told them, I mean, we acknowledged uh, understanding of the lawsuit and um, you know, and and they understand that, you know, we're making attempts to talk with them. So, you know, we feel comfortable at this point with that. If anybody wants to add a quick thought, vice president.

Yeah, I just um wrote my desired requirements for acceptance of 3A and I'm passing it out to anybody who wants to take a look at it. This is what I think and you all I know that you're talking with them. I'm hoping that you close well, but I this is my feeling about what I could accept in your negotiations and thank you so much for reaching out. Thank you.

Precinct 6 update. We will be um coming to a vote at our next meeting. Right now we have four candidates. Um, a couple of them are here now. Maybe three of them are here now. Marty Finn, Danny Floyd, Michael Gillespie, and Kevin Morales is the most recent. Um, still haven't had a I haven't had a chance to meet with all of them, so I definitely want to do that. I'm not sure if what else has had the opportunity to or not, but um we will definitely be taking that up on the agenda uh at our next meeting. Uh appointments. I have a couple appointments that I will be making. Um and I will just read the following appointments. Town council president is appointing Town Council President is appointing Cheryl Howard to the Firehouse Reuse Committee with a term in force until such time it's required. I am appointing Jamie Martasano to the firehouse reuse committee in a term until it is expired until it is required. and I am appointing Michael Gillespie to the citizens finance advisory committee with a term to end June 30th, 2029. Those appointments have been made and if the town council wishes to challenge those appointments, they could go to the charter and follow the procedures there. New business discuss March meeting dates. So, we try to keep meetings every other week so we can inform the public and as the end of March comes, it comes closer to the the meat of budget season and getting into it. So, I'm proposing that we suspend the council. The the

original meeting dates for March would be the 3rd and the 17th. Um, if we do that, we'll be going three weeks at the end of March until the beginning of April. So, um I would like to entertain a motion to um suspend council rules and change the meetings from the 3rd and 17th to the 10th and 24th. That will enable us to keep every other week. Um if there's a motion motion motion by council dimes second by council discussion none all those in favor say I.

No. website public comment just a second reason two um just kind of Steve I don't know if it's possible or not um but being that coming up on the ending of the lights can you post I know you must have a list of prioritized streets can you post probably the day before parking um on those streets that you want to address. Is that is that possible? There is no talking about Well, I understand that, but people are the compliance has been good, but we're showing up on the roads.

Okay. We have we have police, but you know. Okay. And and they and they move and and the roads that haven't been cleared yet, you know, the parking it's it's so obvious that you can't park because you're not going to have a lane of travel that they're really not parking on. I understand just, you know, giving tenants a heads up the night before. So they instead of just, you know, you showing up at 7:30 to clear snow, if you you say, "Hey, we're going to do snow removal tomorrow." Don't, you know, just just post no snow removal on a date. And that way you don't have to ask people. We're not asking people because there's no pocket

public comments back and forth. Anyway, that was just a suggestion. Uh Celeste,

Celeste, where are you at? At precinct one on the subject of three in the EOHLC meeting. I guess I'd like a little bit more information. I read some of the notes. Um I it's been my takeaway for quite a long time that the official position by not being in compliance is that we don't we're not interested in being in compliance, but I'd like to understand if there was a set of criteria um to meet that would get us closer to compliance. Just to dubtail off of um Vice President Swopee's um statement that she has a set of criteria. Um, so I'd like to know if there were a set of criteria that could be shared broadly. And then I'm a little bit puzzled about the conversation about if we were to conduct a townwide vote um, where that would position us with EOHLC and what level of support they would give that or additional conversation after that. It's my understanding that the legislation does not permit a referendum vote does not allow for it. So I guess I'd like a little bit more um, information on that and understanding on that and what the approach is. Thank you. Um,

um, Lee Foley, precinct 6. I just wanted to make um, advocate for um, pavement clearing for pedestrians. Um, I feel like car drivers are getting priority for being able to move around town, but like the other day I was driving at Crestav Junction and people were let off the bus on the street and they had to walk around the snow mounds and pass the cars that were waiting at the light. Um, so especially at bus stops, um, and just everywhere in general because people are having to go on the narrow streets. Steve, I'd like to just speak Steve Rogers precinct.

Steve Ro's precinct one. I'd like to speak on just a minute on the rank being an enterprise fund because a lot of times it's confusing. There is risk involved because the town owns it. But I'd like to speak about the reward for a minute. If anyone's familiar, I just just for my credentials and speaking about I spent six years as the youth hockey president. I run a scholarship program out of there yearly that raises 9,000 for in the name of uh Steven Aone passed away officer who passed away on duty. Yes. And uh we give $9,000 a year out of high school scholarships. And also I play there um nightly, probably two, three times a week. Uh the the reward if you look at any rink around here in the region. They are all mostly privately owned and they are not used by the community. The beauty and the reward of our rink is that it is 90% used by this community. 33% of it is renters. 90% of those are from Winthre. It's used by Winter Youth Hockey, who is still an independent, not merged, which is another whole issue. Youth hockey teams tend to merge um other communities and stuff. Winter is still its own youth hockey association and the um schools also use it. I think the beauty of our rink is that there is risk but the reward is that like I said it the community uses it and utilizes it tremendously and um to reduce the risk. Uh it takes good management and I would just like to give credit to the rink manager Bob Dementoto and also um Mr. Litary the president of the council for his diligence over years of hard work to keep that rink flowing and keep it at a surplus. Thank you,

Tom Darian, precinct 3 and your beloved tree warden. Uh, last time uh, I stood up and I said, uh, money doesn't grow on trees and everyone agreed. And I said, "Money grows trees." And everyone agreed to the extent that a GoFundMe group of citizens raised enough money that we have some money to plant trees uh this spring and that's that's very much appreciated. Uh uh we do have uh uh some other needs like we need some money for a a watering truck so we can water watering a tank to put on the back of a pickup truck. Uh so we can uh protect our investment. Uh and we might we might need some muscle as well as uh uh to dig some holes to plant these trees if DPW guys are are busy uh doing emergencies. Uh and then we would like further to uh apply for uh a cool cores grant next year uh that our our uh that our uh uh assistant uh town manager um uh diligently and professionally applied for uh with help from our uh uh DBW director Steve Keller uh the tree committee and the planning board. and would like to be able to apply for that. Uh again, that was a grant for 100,000. Uh uh that's bigger than the 3,000 we got. Uh and money grows trees. It doesn't grow on them, it grows them. Uh so I hope we can uh uh move forward in that direction.

John, hi John Morgan, precinct 4. I'd like to comment on Lee's uh comment. Uh if anyone in the town sees a a sidewalk or crosswalk or any other thing that's not shoveled and it's not town property, call the building inspector, give them the address. They'll go out. uh they'll either give them uh if they find that it's uh non-compliant, they'll give them a warning. If it's still not, they'll give them a ticket. But um I've run into this a lot of places and it's very frustrating that that homeowners aren't doing their due diligence in shoveling their crosswalk. If they are, they're not wide enough. Um Uh but that's a compliant issue that uh unfortunately in my opinion is not being addressed. If you have a car in the street and that car is blocking traffic in any way that the police are called car is ticketed uh moved or towed. What about sidewalks? What about private residences? Uh, is public safety just for the streets? No. Public safety is everywhere. Thank you.

Thank you, John. Mr. Mr. President,

as far as the um $48,000 amount of money that to study the make an engineering plan for uh Tylen G. Has that contract been awarded? That's a question that doesn't have to be answered right now, but I'd like to bring it to the surface. I know. As far as the U passport agreement, I mentioned it, but it wasn't on the agenda. And I think because I mentioned it, uh, President Lati mentioned it after that. What's not on the what is not on the agreement? If you want to put it on the agenda, I put on the agenda. As far as uh the use of the money, like I said in my first statement, it is going to be the most important uh business that this town has ever seen. They have billions of dollars. They're giving us a pittance of that billions of dollars. So, I'd like to see that happen. As far as the u the negotiations with Mass Boy, you did mention transparency in your opening uh statement, transparency. And then you mentioned tonight because I mentioned it that there has been ongoing negotiations with a a paid consultant. So, uh, nobody knows besides you maybe or the manager who is that paid consultant. Why isn't that transparent? Top secret. Why Why don't the people know who's negotiating a $20 million contract, so to speak? Could be any amount of money. It could be $50 million

if you put someone in there that that knows what they're doing. billions and billions of dollars and they're squeezing us and they bother us to no end. So, I don't appreciate you bringing that up in this meeting because it was not on the agenda. Put it on the agenda if you want to talk about it. Thank you online. Diane Sans.

Hi, it's me. Um, couple of things. I just uh you covered uh your meeting with Mr. Augustus. Do you have a follow-up date? I didn't see any promises or comments. Um, but you did ref uh refer to losing the case or in court several times and I'm not sure which case that is that we're due to. Great. You hear me? We can hear you.

Oh, okay. So, I'm just wondering is it the case by Andrea Campbell or our exemption case? And since I've brought it up, I'm wondering if you would reconsider joining the exemption case which would make it stronger and give us um a a way a possible way out as I see the only one. Um, also I I just want to say I think it's best for the community left with what we have assumed and I hope it's not personal. Um, if you're not following our exemption case that's already in the courts, are you writing an exemption case from the town of Win? I hope you are. I'd like to know when it's going to be coming up. Um, couple of just um regular comments. Um I just wanted to comment on this speaking disrespectful to the council um issue. I think an honest comment to be a critical is permissible as long as it's done you know professionally without any anger. Um this is how we run our government with free speech. Um, also, um, I'm kind of curious as to the reason for the seat changes and I'm on the council and I might have missed the reason. My last thing, I love the rank because I collect signatures there and I'm now collecting for a person that's running against the attorney general. See you there. Thanks a lot. Bye-bye.

Thank you. Yes. Hi, Aaron Burcell 365. Just um my uh bi-weekly uh invite to join us on the bridge on Saturdays 10 to 12. Um everyone's welcome. Come join us. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Public relations still have an opening on the board of license and uh board of appeals. Motion to approve. May I just just public public relations

public relations. Yeah. Um I just um again just I I direct your attention to Carol Mishi's article on the transcript. It's just a clarification of what's going on in terms of the of the um the negotiations. It's just a clarification of what the schools want and what the town is asking for. I ask you to take a look at that. I have um the health safety public works committee is I did put out an agenda for four meetings. I know it's unusual, but I thought it might be helpful and I'm hoping that um the town manager will will work with me on this and I think it's going to be clarifying to what actually we do in terms of the town. And finally, the listening post that I have is coming up at the end for every Wednesday, the last Wednesday of every month. for a few months. Um, and I'm hoping to clarify that in terms of putting together a plan for an envisioning winter for the next 10 years. That would be one segment of that. And then concerns would be another segment and maybe new ideas would be a third. So I welcome all of you. I thank you so much for coming to the last one and I will always um I will actually this time it will be on Zoom and I will actually take that. Thank you to um Denise first and so you can listen to it. Thank you so much.

I I'm going to ask for clarification to council WS right now. This is not the time to ask. Well, I I just want to make sure that we're following our charter rules correctly. Yeah. File something after. Okay. How would I file the town? Um and just for clarification, the teachers union is not negotiating with the town. They're negotiating with the schools. Uh motion to adjourn by council dime. Second. Second by any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. No.